Decarbonizing attachment for internal-combustion motors.



G. H. 'HODGDON| DECARBONIZING ATTACHMENT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION MOTORS.

APPLICATION FILED 0CT 27.1915.

19?@5 Patented Jan. 9, 19717.

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crearon.

GEORGE E. HGBGDUN, F .NEW YORK, N. Y.

DECRBNIZNG ATTACHMENT FOB NTERNAL-COMBUSTIGN MTRS.

narines.

Application led October 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, GEORGE H. HoDGDoN,

a citizen of the United States of America,

residing at Q15 West One Hundredth street, borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful improvements in Decarbonizing Attachments for Internal-Combustion Motors, of which the .following is a specification.

|This invention relates to internal combustion engines and in particular to an attachment ior such engines which will serve to increase the eiiiciency and economy of operation oi' the same. i

The primary object in view is to provide a simple device adapted to be mounted in a convenient position, such as for instance upon the dash of an automobile body when used in connection with an automobile engine, whereby a regulable quantity of water may be vaporized and aerated and then fed to the combustible mixture of the engine within the manifold of the latter. The attachment is adapted to be connected with any well known type of internal combustion engine without makinOA any material modications in the construction thereof.

To 'these ends the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts more 3@ fully set forth and described hereinafter in the specication and claims and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the dash of an automobile body, portions thereof be- 35 ing broken away, showing the regulating device mounted thereon-g F ig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing the manner in which the attachment is connected with the engine; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view il@ through the regulating device alone; Fig. d is a side elevation partly in section of a modified form of water regulating device having means for atomizing the water without the assistance of air; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. t; and, Fig. 6 is a plan view of the modified form of water regulating and vaporizing device together with an auxiliary air intake device, showing these devices connected with the manifold of an engine, the-latter being broken away.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, and in particular to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 designates the manifold of an internal combastion engine having a pipe 2 communicat Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented dan. t), 319117.

serial no. 53,255.

ing therewith. rllhis pipe is connected in the customary manner with the usual carbureter 5. Another pipe 6 is connected with the lower end of the vertically extending, elongated casing 7 of my improved water feeding and vaporizing device. This latter is provided with suitable means for securing the same to the dash of an automobile body or to some other convenient support, in the position shown in Fig. V1 of the drawings in particular. The lower portion of this casing 7 forms a mixing chamber and is pro-` vided with a View opening 8 which is shielded by means of a transparent member, such as a glass tube 9 fitting snugly within the casing, whereby the latter is rendered air and water tight. rlhe water which is intended to -be vaporized and introduced into the manifold of the engine, enters the casing 7 adjacent to its upper end through a supply pipe 10 leading from a suitable source. A needle valve 11 is provided within the casing between its upper and lower compartments. IThe stem 12 of this valve projects through the upper end of the casing and is in screw-threaded engagement therewith, in order that it may be adjusted readily from the exterior/of the casing by means of a f manipulating head 13 provided upon the stem. 1n order to place the stem under tension andthus secure the same against accidental displacement when it has once been adjusted, -in spite 'of the vibration of the support, a helical spring 1li is positioned upon the stem between the upper end of the casing and the manipulating head 13.

ln order that air may be admitted freely to the interior of the casing 7 so as to become mixed with the water as it' is vaporized, a

valve chamber 15 is provided exteriorly upon one side of the casing 7 in communication therewith. This casing is provided with an air inlet port 16 and with a valve plug 17,

which is mounted for reciprocation within the chamber 15 and issadapted normally to be maintained in a position wherein it closes the port 16 by means of a spring 18. A wire 19 or the like is connected with the valve plug 17 and passes around pulleys 20 and through a protective tube 19a upon the steering post to a hand lever 191 situated'in a convenient position beneath the steering wheel where it can be readily manipulated by the driver.

The operation of Ythe device will now be with the carbureted explosive gas.

described. lf it is desired to inject water vapor into the explosive mixture, without any additional air, the air valve 17 is mainv tained closed, whereas the -manipulating head 13 or" the water valve is opened to an extent suiiicient to permit water to enter the mixing chamber at the lower end of the casv ing a in successive drops. The desired numcf drops per uniL of time may be regu` readily by adjustment of the water valve minutely. As the lower end of the casing is in communication with the manifold of the bustion more complete than it would be' otherwise. Consequently., there will be a minimum deposition of carbon between the engine cylinders'. Fuel will thus be saved and the engine will be rendered clean and highly -eiicient in operation. By opening the air valve 17, air will be permitted to enterl the mixingchamber of the casing 7 at the same time that water is being injected into the same. As a result, the water will become vaporized as it enters the top oi' the chamber, when it is :ted at precisely the proper rate, and the vapor and air will mix and produce an even more eliicient vapor for combination Owing to the provision of the sight opening in the casing 7 the driver may detect readily any cessation of the water feed. He is also enabled to time the drops with precision, by virtue of this sight opening. 1

In the remaining figures of dra-wing, a modified form of water feed regulator is illustrated. This device does not provide for the mixture of air direct with the water, but instead provides mechanical means for imparting a swirling motion to the water entering its atomizing chamber whereby it will be effectively converted into vapor. In this instance, there will also be a tendency to create a vacuum within the atomizing chamber, and this will assist in feeding the water and also in vaporizingthe same. Means are provided `for mixing air with the watervapor at a point near the manifold.` In this form of the device, 2,1V designates a pipey which is intended to be connected with the manifold of the engine and isv of sufficient diameter to provide an atomizing chamber. A tubular casing 22 is litted into the end oi' this pipe mostremote from the manifold and is provided witha transverse wall-23 which divides the saine into two chambers. A valve engine, there will be a tendency to,

needle point associated with the valve port- 24. This valve member is tubular in construction and 1s provided with an interiorly screw-threaded manipulating head 27'at its outer end. This head is in threaded engagement with a pipe coupling 28 which latter is adapted to be secured rigidly to a. water supply pipe- 29 by means of the clamping4 depling 28 with the head of the needle valve member 25 and those which connect the latter with the casing 22 are similar in pitch and direction of twist, so that the valve member may be adjusted freely with respect to the casing and the coupling 28 as well. This is essential, owing tothe `lfact that the pipes 21 and 29 are stationarily mounted inprac tice. Owing to this construction, the water is) introduced into the casing through the zdupling 28 and channels inthe valve memer. in construction and will be at no point larger in diameter than the pipe 21.

vice 30. The threads which connect the cou The'device Ywill thus be very compact I The inner end portion of the casing 22 provided with spirally arranged deiecting blades 31. These blades are formed by prblviding diametrically opposite, axial slots/'in the casing walls, Which slots extend thro fgh the inner end of the same, and then bending corresponding edges of the walls at the slots inwardly. These defiecting blades will serve to impart a swirling motion to the water as it passes from the casing to thepipe 21, either in the form of drops or in a stream,

depending upon whether the valve 25 is nearly closed or wideopen and also upon the position o the device, whether horizontal or vertical. ln the presentinstance, it`

is shown in a horizontal position, in which it will operate eectively. The motion imparted to the water by means of the deiecting blades will serve to. promote vaporization of thewater, as assisted by the vacuum created within the pipe 21.

ln order that air may be mixed with the Water vapor when desired, anair inlet pipeI lli# 32 communicates with-the pipe 21 at a pointnear the place of connection'of the latter with the engine manifold. This pipe 32 is provided with an inlet port 33 adapted normally to beclosed by the spring-actuated valve member 34, which latter is adapted to be manually controlled by means similar te those illustrated in connection withthe preferr'ed form of the device.A

When this device is attached to an engine having cylinders already touled'with carbon, its use for a short time will serve to clean the carbon from the cylinders so that knocking will cease and the engine will run smoothly.

Having thus described the invention, what it is desired to claim and to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. The combination with an internal combustion motor` having a carbureter -and a manifold, of a member communicating with the manifold and having a chamber provided with a valve port in its top wall, a source of si!) ly of Water, means for conducting Water rom the said source to the said port, a controlling valve associated with the port and adapted to cause the Water to fall in the form of the chamber to be vaporized therein, the Wall of said chamber having a transparent View portion disposed beneath the said valve port, and regulable means for admitting air into the chamber at a point situated above the view portion thereof.

2. A device of the class described compris- Copies of this patent may be obtained for vecents each, by addressing the drops into i ing a member having a chamber, said chamber having an outlet at its bottom adapted to be connected with the manifold of an inl ternal combustion motor and having an in- .let at its top adapted to be connected with tvvo subscribing Witnesses.

' GEORGE H. HODGDON.

whereof I have lsigned my the presence of Witnesses:

DUDLEY B. HOWARD JOHN C. SANDERS.

Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,- D. C.

25 provided in the inlet, the member being pro- 

